What Are the Duties of an MDS Coordinator?

<p>What does an MDS (minimum data set) coordinator do? Also known as resident assessment coordinators and nurse assessment coordinators, MDS coordinators: </p> <ul><li>Assess and evaluate the quality of care being given to long-term care residents </li><li>Perform the initial interview and assess new residents </li><li>Develop a care plan that has long-term and short-term goals for improvement </li><li>Conduct meetings with multidisciplinary treatment teams, caretakers, and families </li><li>Reach out to specialists within the community to get help in achieving care plan goals </li></ul><p>MDS coordinator responsibilities could include preparing and electronically transmitting timely reports to the national Medicare and Medicaid database. Ensuring the accuracy of medical records and coding procedures is essential for a facility to receive proper reimbursement. You will become a residents' rights advocate to ensure that each resident is aware of his or her legal rights. Being able to react appropriately in an emergency situation is also beneficial. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisOccupation">Important Facts About This Occupation</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Similar Occupations </td><td> Director of nurses, medical biller, certified nurse assistant</td></tr> <tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Compassion, emotional stability, patience, and speaking skills</td></tr> <tr><td> Work Environment </td><td> Typically full-time (sometimes in shifts of 8+ hours) during the day, evening, and over-night</td></tr> <tr><td> Required Education </td><td> Typically a bachelor's or associate's if you're a registered nurse and/or an approved educational program if you're a licensed practical nurse</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---ProfessionalTrainingRequirements">Professional Training Requirements</h3> <p>To be an MDS coordinator, you must at least be a <a href="http://learn.org/articles/What_Does_a_Licensed_Practical_Nurse_LPN_Do.html">licensed practical nurse</a> (LPN); many facilities require one be a registered nurse (RN) with some experience, preferably in a long-term care facility. The American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination (AANAC) provides <a href="https://learn.org/articles/MDS_Coordinator_Certification_and_Training_Online_Program_FAQs.html">specialized training</a> and a national certification exam for the association's Resident Assessment Coordinator Certified (RAC-CT) designation. The training will teach you about care plans, third party reimbursements, and performing assessments; you will take seven core courses and three electives. Many employers now require that MDS nurse coordinators be certified. </p> <h3 id="section---EmploymentOutlookAndSalaryExpectations">Employment Outlook and Salary Expectations</h3> <p>According to July 2019 data from <i>PayScale.com</i>, MDS coordinators earned a median annual wage of $64,370. In general, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted employment growth of 12% for licensed practical nurses and 15% for registered nurses from 2016-2026.</p>